Press platen



May 29, 1928. -v

L. MCCARTHY PRESS PLATEN Filed Nov. 2

v were made of cast'iron, cored out to form the EIL Patented May 29, 19x28.

' UNITEDA STATES e 1,611,648 4PATEN'I OFFICE.

LOUIS MCCARTHY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MACALLEN COM- rANY, OF BOSTON, MAssACHUsETTS, A COHPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

PRESS PLATEN.

Application led November 12,` 1925. Serial No. 68,652.

platen may be heated or cooled quickly and maintained from end tO end at substantially an even and uniform temperature irrespec-` tive of the length or size Aofsthe'platen.

Heretofore where the circulating medium was introduced into the platen at one point` and returned therefromat another point, it was founddiilicult to maintain aconstant and even temperature since the temperature of the circulating fluid variedfduring its circulation. y

Furthermore where, heretofore, platens `fluid passages, or from sections rivetedLtogether face to face with the rivets extending all the' way through both sections, such platens were short lived. The cast iron` rendered the platen brittle and easily broken, permitted it to withstand only relatively low pressures, and the riveted plates when subjectedto high internalpressure tended to separate due to the opening of the rivet lioints and causing` leakage.` Also it was found in the case of platens formed from a pair of riveted sections that the rivets obstructed the flow of fluid through the interior. passages and the rivet heads formed obstructions on the outer working facesof the plat- In addition to these disadvantages in prior constructions. the cast iron platens were relatively thick and heavy, were frequently uneven in construction, and on account of the relatively thick walls Lthereof required yconsiderable time to heat or cool. The` cast iron platens were also objectionable on laccount of their bulkiness and weight wh1ch rendered them inconvenient and dillicult to handle.` i

AL further object, therefore,of the present invention is to provide an improved platen wherein the foregoing disadvantages and obl 'jectione' are entirely eliminated. `As are= `bodiment of my invention.` i

sult of the present invention, the platen may be constructed of steel `plates interlocked tof gether interiorly thereof in an improved manner, and formin `unobstructed outer working surfaces. he present improved construction renders the fplaten substantially indestructible, capable o withstanding high interior and exterior pressures, relatively light and easily handled. In addition the present platen may be quickly heated or cooled and at the same time maintaining during use a substantiallyeven and uniform* temperature. 5 i

Otherobjects of this invention will appear in the followingfdescription andappended claims, reference being had to the accomy panying drawings forming a `part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding partsin the several views, and wherein: f y,

Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating an em- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of the platen.

\ Fig. 3 isa sectional view taken substanf,

tially on the line 3 3, Fig. 1 in the directionof the arrows. y, n e Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken Substantially on `the line 4.-4, Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining `in detail the present improvement and mode of`operation thereof, I desire to `have it understood thatthe inventon is not limited to the details of construction and arrangementof :parts which are illustrated in `the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capableof other embodiments, and that the phraseology whichV I'employ is-for the purpose of descriptionandnot of limitation. ,y

The invention as herein illustrated 1n a present preferred form thereof is embodied in the type of platen illustrated in my prior application, Serial No. 7 35,201, filed August 30, 1924, and comprises a pair of sections or steel plates Sand l10 superimposed one upon `the other.

yis of substantially the same form and preferably identical and therefore a detailed description of one thereof will for all. Each of the `csa-:tiet between the lower or plate lla supporting plate 9 and the top plate 1() comprises a continuous tortuous passage 11 formed by means of lengthwise extending grooves. Thesegrooves may be formed in any suitable manner as by machining the plate 9. It will be noted that each of the cavities is in the form of a plurality of.

parallel longitudinal open passages alter-l nately connected at the opposite ends-thereof by short transverse assages 13.

Extending between t e passages 11 and 'longitudinally ofthe platen are a plurality ofv partitions 14, and the top plate 10 is secured tothe supporting plate 9 by means of interlocking connections carriedby the partitions 14y and by the" inner faces ofthe top lplates 10. In the `present instance these interlocking connections comprise lengthwise extending. do'vetails machined on' the upper edges of the partitions 14 and adapted to tit vinto and mate with lengthwise extending dovetailed grooves 17 machined `in the bottom face of the plate 10. Itf will be note'd that the partitions 14 at each end of each section A, B, C, and' Dare interrupted b"Y the transverse Grooves or iassafes 13 and D C i 7 atthe' opposite ends of the p aten a plurality of short partitions having dovetails 16v are provided between the passages ory grooves 13 and the ends yoft the plate 9'.A At the same time' the top plate 10'f'is Jrovided withcorresponding short 'dovetaiied grooves mating with the parts 16. y

Each of the cavities or passages denoted bythe reference letters A, B, C andl Dois provided with an independent inlet' andoutlet. Thus a hole 18 is tapped into the side edele ofthe bottomplate 9 and communicates wi `h`the outer run 11'J of the passage 11and in like manner a hole 19 is tappediinto the plate 9 at the opposite side ofl the platen and communicates with the opposite. outer run ,l1a of' thepassage 11. A circulating fluid is supplied t'oeach ofthe'series: of l assages or cavities 11 by meansof inlet pipes 20` screwedinto the tapped holes 19 and con- 'nec't-ed'to a header pipe Q2 having ,acommon inlet at 23. A separate'outlet `for each of the passages or `cavities is provided by means of pipes 21 screwed into the tapped holes 18 and connected to ,a header 24 having a common outlet 25.

In the present instance the supporting plate 9 is chamfered along its uppereldge at 26, and the joint between the top andbottom plates is closedaround the sideedges ot' the platen as by means of'a strip welded into the chamfered groove 26.

It will be understood `from the foregoing that the plates 9 andl 10 maybe readily assembled by fitting the doveta'ils 15 into'the dovetailed grooves 17 of the upper plate, and sliding the plates together under pressure. In this manner the plates areirmly interlocked together and in use the joints between the dovetail connections rust t-ogether so as to forni sealedconnections between the plates. It will also'be seen that the platen may be constructed `in anydesired length, and by dividing the platen unit into a plurality of sections each section having a tortu'ous passage with an independent inlet and outlet, it possible to heat or cool the platen in contiguous sections so that the temperature of the .circulating'medium will vary but slightly'dring.' its circulation thereby ymaintz'lining the tetn erature ofthe platen during use substantial y constant and unifo'rm. Furthermore the manner of in`- terlockingandsecurin the steel plates together permits easy assembly an'd'provides a structure of great strength and durability without any'con'ne'cting rivets or other obstruction's accessible or in any way interfering with: theworking faces ofthe platen.`

t is to be understood that by4 describing in detail herein any. particular form, structure, orfarran'gement, it isnotintendedltb limit the invent-ion beyond the termsot the several claims or'the requirements of` the prior Lart.y y

VYhatI claim is:

LA ressplaten or thelike comprisin a pair o plates superimposed one 4upon tie other and having therebetween interior paitltions' forrriirig a plurality' of cavities each comprising `a `.continuous tortuous passage, and means'for independentlyl s'upplyin `a circulating medium to each of said' cavities.

2. A presshplaten *comprisingA af pair of plates superimposed one upon the other, a

plurality of' longitudlall alined partitions between y saidplates anil forming a plurality oftortuo'us passages, means for separating. said` passageslongitudinally of the Vplatemvand" means for interiorly interlock- 'ing the' platesibetweensaidpassages.

3. A: pressl plat-enY comprising. a pair of plates superimposed one upon the other' and having the. joint therebetween at the edges ofthe laten closed by welding, a plurality of vongitudin'ally 1alined partitions .between said plates and forming a plurality of tortuous passages, means/for separating said' passageslon itudinally ofthe platen, means for interior y interlocking thelplates between said passages, `and inlet and outlet condlts for each of said assages.

4. l a fair' of'pliites superimposed' one upon the ot er and'having' therebetween interior partit-ions forrnitiga` plurality of cavities each comprising`l a ,continuous t'ortuous passage, means fb-r indephdentlysupplying a circulating medium to ea'chv of said' cavities, and interlocking means carried by said partitions and by one `of said plates for securing the plates tloget'her. l

5. A press' platen vor the like comprising a pair of platslsuperimposed one upon 'the other andv having therebetween interior parplates together, and means for closing the titions forming a plurality of cavities eaeh joint bet-Ween said plates at the edges of the comprising a continuous tortuous passage, Vplaten between the top and bottom faces 10 means for independently supplying a cirthereof.

culating medium to each of said cavities, in- In testimony whereof I affix my signature. terlocking means carried by said partitions and by one of said plates for securing the LOUIS MCCARTHY; 

